Development of postbiotics by whey bioconversion with Enterococcus faecalis M157 KACC81148BP and Lactococcus lactis CAU2013 KACC81152BP for treating periodontal disease and improving gut health

In Vitro and In Silico Characterization of N-Formylated Two-Peptide Bacteriocin from Enterococcus faecalis CAUM157 with Anti-Listeria Activity

Enterococcus faecalis CAUM157 (KACC 81148BP), a Gram-positive bacteria isolated from raw cow's milk, was studied for its bacteriocin production. The antimicrobial activity of CAUM157 was attributed to a two-peptide class IIb bacteriocin with potent activity against food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes and periodontal disease-causing pathogens (Prevotella intermedia KCTC 15693 T and Fusobacterium nucleatum KCTC 2488 T). M157 bacteriocins exhibit high temperature and pH stability and resist hydrolytic enzyme degradation and detergent denaturation, potentially due to their structural conformation. Based on amino acid sequence, M157A and M157B were predicted to be 5.176 kDa and 5.182 kDa in size, respectively. However, purified bacteriocins and chemically synthesized N-formylated M157 peptides both showed 5.204 kDa (M157A) and 5.209 kDa (M157B) molecular mass, confirming the formylation of the N-terminal methionine of both peptides produced by strain CAUM157. Furthermore, the strain demonstrated favorable growth and fermentation with minimal bacteriocin production when cultured in whey-based media, whereas a 1.0% tryptone or soytone supplementation resulted in higher bacteriocin production. Although Ent. faecalis CAUM157 innately harbors genes for virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance (e.g., tetracycline and erythromycin), its bacteriocin production is valuable in circumventing the need for live microorganisms, particularly in food applications for pathogen control.

Postbiotics from Pichia kudriavzevii promote intestinal health performance through regulation of Limosilactobacillus reuteri in weaned piglets

Postbiotics are attractive as alternatives to antibiotics for use against post-weaning diarrhea. However, their beneficial mechanisms are largely unknown. In the current study, we first demonstrated that supplementation with 0.5% Pichia kudriavzevii FZ12 postbiotics in the diet significantly reduced diarrhea incidence, promoted growth performance, improved gut health performance, and significantly enriched beneficial bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus spp., in the intestines of weaned piglets. Importantly, we identified a heat- and proteinase K-sensitive component, cytochrome c, of the postbiotics that significantly promoted the growth and biofilm formation of Limosilactobacillus reuteri FP13. We demonstrated the importance of P. kudriavzevii FZ12 postbiotics in improving the intestinal health of a model animal and revealed that cytochrome c is one of the important components of yeast postbiotics. These findings may provide new insights into microbe-postbiotics interplay that can be applied to guidelines for dietary modulation to alleviate weaning-induced diarrhea.

Development of postbiotics by bioconverting whey using Lactobacillus plantarum SMFM2017-YK1 and Limosilactobacillus fermentum SMFM2017-NK1 to alleviate periodontitis

This study investigated the effects of whey bioconversion products (WBPs) produced by lactic acid bacteria on periodontal disease. WBPs were prepared by fermenting whey with seven lactic acid bacteria, Limosilactobacillus fermentum SMFM2017-CK1 (LF-CK1), L. plantarum SMFM2017-NK2 (LP-NK2), Pediococcus pentosaceus SMFM2017-NK1 (PP-NK1), L. plantarum SMFM2017-NK1 (LP-NK1), L. paraplantarum SMFM2017-YK1 (LPP-YK1), L. plantarum SMFM2017-YK1 (LP-YK1), and L. fermentum SMFM2017-NK1 (LF-NK1)]; the pH of the fermented whey was adjusted to 6.5, followed by centrifugation. WBPs were examined for their effect on cell viability and antimicrobial activity against periodontal pathogens. The selected WBPs were used in animal experiments. After inducing periodontitis through right mandibular first molar ligation, WBPs were administered orally for 8 weeks. After sacrifice, gene and protein expression analyses of genes related to inflammatory and oxidative stress were performed, and histopathological analysis of gingival tissue was conducted. Our results showed that LP-YK1 WBP (WBP produced by LP-YK1) and LF-NK1 WBP (WBP produced by LF-NK1) groups exerted higher anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed that infiltration of inflammatory cells and epithelial cell proliferation were reduced in the LP-YK1 WBP group. These results indicate that WBPs prepared with LP-YK1 can be used as a postbiotic to alleviate periodontitis.

Outside the limits of bacterial viability: postbiotics in the management of periodontitis

Periodontitis is a major cause of tooth loss in adults worldwide and is caused by an unbalanced oral microbiota in a susceptible host, ultimately leading to tissue breakdown and bone loss. Traditionally, the treatment for periodontitis is scaling and root planing; however, some cases require adjuvant therapy, such as antibiotics administration or surgery. Various factors are involved in the pathogenesis and interact in an unpredictable way, increasing the complexity of the disease and making it difficult to manage. In this context, the administration of probiotics aimed at resolving bacterial dysbiosis and the associated dysregulation of the immune system has been employed in clinical trials with encouraging results. However, the use of viable microorganisms is not risk-free, and immunocompromised patients may develop adverse effects. Therefore, the use of inactivated microbial cells, cell fractions, or soluble products and metabolites of probiotics, known as postbiotics, has gained increasing attention. In this commentary, we present the current literature assessing the impact of postbiotics on the growth and metabolism of periodontal pathogens, as well as on the progression of periodontitis in rodents and humans. We also discuss the limitations of the available data and what the scientific community should consider in order to transfer this innovative therapeutic modality from the bench to the bedside.

Home Oral Care of Periodontal Patients Using Antimicrobial Gel with Postbiotics, Lactoferrin, and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder vs. Conventional Chlorhexidine Gel: A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial

Periodontitis is a progressive destruction of both soft and hard tooth-supporting tissues. In the last years, probiotics have been proposed as a support to the gold standard treatment scaling and root planing (SRP), but no extensive literature is present as regards the effect of the more recent postbiotics. Thirty patients subjected to SRP were randomly assigned to two domiciliary hygiene treatments based on the following oral gels: the postbiotics-based Biorepair Parodontgel Intensive (Group 1) and the chlorhexidine-based Curasept Periodontal Gel (Group 2). At baseline (T₀) and after 3 and 6 months (T₁–T₂), the following periodontal clinical parameters were recorded: Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), recession, dental mobility, Bleeding on Probing (BoP), and Plaque Control Record (PCR). A significant intragroup reduction was assessed in both groups for PPD, BoP, and PCR; conversely, recession significantly increased in both groups, whereas dental mobility did not vary. As regards intergroup comparisons, no statistically significant differences were assessed. Both gels, respectively, containing antioxidant natural ingredients and chlorhexidine, are effective for the domiciliary treatment of periodontitis. Further studies are required to evaluate the singular chemical compounds of the gels expected to exert the beneficial action assessed in this preliminary study.